Uterine curette.



No. 879,297. PATENTED FEB. 18, 1908.-

'F. T. M. MOORMEISTER.

UTERINE CURBTTE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1907.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

UTERINE GUREC-ITE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1908.

Application filed April 3. 1907. Serial No. 366239.

T all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, FRANK T. M. MooR- MEISTER, citizen of the nited States, residing at La Grande, in the county of Union and 5 State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Uterine Curettes, of which the following isa specification.

This invention has for its object to provide an obstetrical instrument which may be introduced through the cervix of the uterus without necessitating the application of force as ordinarily required for dilation when using a curette or similar instrument.

A further purpose of the invention is to 5 provide an instrument of the character and for the purpose aforesaid, which will admit of the size of the uterotome being varied both for introduction of the instrument and according to the special nature of the case to be operated upon. The instrument comprises a tube or sheath, an expansible uterotome slidable within the tube or sheath to admit of contraction thereof to the required size, and peculiar actuating means for moving the uterotome with reference to its sheath or tube.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the inventionfmay be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a uterine curette embodying the invention, showing the uterotome expanded to its fullest size and having the handle in section to show the relation of the parts. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 having the uterotome contracted. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the handle on the line X-X of Fig. 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated a in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters. The instrument comprises a tube or sheath 1, a handle 2 at one end of said tube, and a uterotome 3 at the opposite end thereof. The uterotome 3 is expansible and consists of a scraper of loop form and flexible, one

edge being sharpened. to effect removal of morbid matter from the membrane or lining of the womb when in an inflamed state. The uterotome or scraper 3 may be an inte gral partof a rod4 arranged to slide within the tube or sheath 1 or may be separate from said rod and attached thereto in any manner. The tube or sheath 1 may be of any length and the handle 2 at one end thereofmay be a art thereof or attached thereto, and said andle may be closed or of open construction as may be preferred, according to the make and finish of the instrument. operates through a guide 5 near the inner end of the handle and is pivoted at the end opposite to that provided with the uterotome with a slide 6 which is directed in its reciproeating movements by a suitable guide 7. The guide may consist of parallel ways in which case the slide 6 has its ends notched to embrace op osite sides of the guide, thereby preventing ateral displacement of the rod 4. For operating the rod 1, toggle levers 8 are provided, one of said levers having pivotal connection with the guide 5 or adjacent portion of the handle, and the other toggle lever having pivotal connection with the slide 6. A button 9 is provided at the joint formed between the toggle levers and is adapted to receive lateral pressure exerted by the thumb or finger of the hand, so as to straighten the toggle levers more or less and effect withdrawal of a portion of the uterotome within the outer end of the tube or sheath 1, whereby the same may be contracted to the required size. The toggle levers normally keep an angular position with-reference to each other and the parts are so arranged as to prevent alining of said toggle levers when the button 9 is pressed inward to its fullest limit, as shown in Fig. 2. The spring action or tendency of the uterotome or scraper is to expand and by reason of the diverging relation of its side members, said uterotome normally projects beyond the end of the tube or sheath to its fullest extent and when contracted pressure must be applied to hold it in the contracted position and the instant the pressure is removed from the button 9 the uterotome expands and moves the rod 4 outward to its extreme limit, which is when the slide 6 is at the upper end of the guide 7, stop shoulders being provided at each end of the guide to limit the movements of the slide and the cooperatin parts.

When it is necessary to app y the instru- The rod 4 one end, a rod slidable within the tube and ment, pressure is exerted upon the button 9 thereby moving the rod 4 within the tube or sheath and contracting the uterotome or scraper, as indicated in Fig. 2, thereby -permitting of the ready introduction of the same into the uterus and through the cervix, after which the pressure may be released from the button 9 more or less to permit the uterotome to expand to the required size, after which the instrument is manipulated in the well known manner to remove the morbid matter producing endometritis Preliminary to the removal of the instrument, the button 9 is again pressed upon to contract the uterotome to its smallest size so that the instrument may be withdrawn with ease and without producing any unnecessary pain or inconvenience to the patient.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An instrument of the character specified, comprising a tube having a handle at handle and. provided at its outer end with a scraper orlike blade and toggle levers arranged l lengthwise of the tube and having connection at their ends with respectively the said rod and the handle portion of the tube, whereby upon exerting pressure on said toggle levers at a right angle to the length of the tube, the rod may be moved within the said tube to oper ate the scraper or blade to a greater or less extent.

2. An instrument of the character specified, comprising a tube having a handle at one end, a rod slidable within the tube, an expansible scraper or uterotome at the other end of said rod, a slide at the inner end of said rod and directed in its movements by a guide portion of said handle, and toggle levers connecting the slide and a portion of the handle whereby pressure upon the toggle levers effects movement of the rod within the tube to vary the size of the aforesaid uterotome.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK T. M. MOORMEISTER.

Vvitnesses JOHN HENRY VoLP, FRANCIS A. VVATTS. 

